Quickflix coming to Chromecast and Apple TV

Adam Turner

Aussie subscription video service Quickflix aims to run on Google and Apple's streaming media players by the end of the year.

Aiming to be the Netflix of Australia, Quickflix has embarked on an aggressive expansion campaign over the past year – targeting new devices and recently dropping prices in response to local rivals such as Foxtel's Presto and Foxtel Play. Like Foxtel's offerings, Quickflix is an all-you-can-eat subscription video service – a model which is gaining popularity over to the traditional pay-as-you-go model of consuming content.

Foxtel Play joined Quickflix on Sony's PlayStation 4 game console on Thursday, but Quickflix is still one step ahead as it prepares to launch soon on Microsoft's Xbox One. Now Quickflix founder and chief executive Stephen Langsford has raised the stakes by officially declaring his intentions to bring Quickflix to both the Apple TV and Google's Chromecast this year.

"To date we've focused on smart TVs and games consoles, with our Xbox One app set to go live over the coming weeks," Langsford says.

"Our development team is already working on support for Google Chromecast, which is very exciting for us. But customers have long been asking for Quickflix to come to the Apple TV so this is something we're also aiming for in 2014."

Langsford's confirmation makes Quickflix the first Australian streaming service to officially stake a claim on the Apple TV or the Chromecast. Telstra is reportedly in secret negotiations with Google to bring Bigpond content to the Chromecast, with speculation that Telstra may partner with Google to distribute the Chromecast locally. Launched in the United States last year, Google's tiny $US35 media player recently expanded into Britain but is yet to officially go on sale in Australia.

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Meanwhile discussions have already begun to add Quickflix to the Apple TV, Langsford says. The US-centric media player supports a wide range of streaming video services including Netflix, HuluPlus and HBO Go – services which aren't officially open to Australians (although there are workarounds). Outside of the US, only a handful of foreign services are available to Apple TV users such as France's CanalPlay, Germany's Watchever, Sweden's TV4 and Britain and Ireland's Sky News – with Sky Sports Now TV also available in Britain.

Quickflix aims to join this select group by the end of the year, extending its reach into Australian lounge rooms.

"I have an Apple TV at home and I'm excited about the prospect of seeing Quickflix on there," Langsford says. "Our volume of streaming has been growing at over 20 per cent per quarter and we certainly see a boost whenever we add new device."

"Our subscribers can register up to six devices with their Quickflix account and watch up to three movies or TV shows concurrently, so every new device we support offers them better value for money from their subscription. In Australia and around the world these kinds of flexible subscription models are proving to be the way of the future, so we're keen to bring Quickflix to as many platforms as possible."